ID · tint law reference
Idaho window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · Idaho Code § 49-944
Legal tint limits at a glance
VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.
| Window | Sedans | SUVs, vans & trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Nonreflective window tinting film or sunscreening devices may not be applied to the windshield below the AS-1 line; if no AS-1 line is identifiable, not below a line extending 6 inches below and parallel to the top of the exposed windshield (§ 49-944(1)(a)) | Same AS-1 / 6-inch rule as sedan — § 49-944 makes no distinction by vehicle type |
| Front side | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
| Rear | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Not stated in the sources we checked.
Is my tint legal here?
Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.
70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear
Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass
Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.
The rest of the rule
Reflectivity
Luminous reflectance no more than 35% with a tolerance of ±3%, on the front side vents, front side windows, the rear window and the side windows to the rear of the driver alike (§ 49-944(1)(b),(c))
Colors
None — Idaho Code § 49-944 contains no color restriction. windowtintlaws.us reports a red/amber/yellow ban; that is not in the statute.
Medical exemption
Yes — § 49-944(4): for a motor vehicle operated by, or carrying as a passenger, a person who possesses written verification from a licensed physician that the operator or passenger must be protected from exposure to sunlight or heat for medical reasons associated with past or current treatment, film may run to not less than 70% ±3% on the front windshield and not less than 20% ±3% on the windows, with luminous reflectance still capped at 35% ±3% in each instance. The written verification must be carried in the vehicle. (Both secondary sites say 75% for the windshield; the statute says 70%.)
Stickers & certification
Not required — § 49-944 imposes no labeling or certification duty. The Idaho State Police may promulgate implementing rules (§ 49-944(3)).
Measurement tolerance
±3% on both light transmission and luminous reflectance, stated for each standard in § 49-944(1)(b),(c) and (4)
Penalties
Infraction — "Any person convicted of a violation of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction" (§ 49-944(6)). It is also unlawful to operate on the public highways, sell, or offer to sell a noncompliant vehicle (§ 49-944(2)).
Notes
Idaho's grouping is unusual and is transcribed exactly as enacted: § 49-944(1)(b) puts the front side vents, the front side windows immediately right and left of the driver, AND the rear window together at 35% minimum, while § 49-944(1)(c) gives only "the side windows to the rear of the driver" the lower 20% floor. So the rear windshield is held to the same 35% as the front doors, and the rear side windows are the darkest windows allowed. There is no sedan / SUV / van / multipurpose-vehicle distinction anywhere in the section — both secondary sources agree on this and match the statute on every figure. Film or devices with which the vehicle was sold new, or that could have been factory or dealer equipment under federal law at the time of manufacture, are not made illegal by this section (§ 49-944(5)). Section last amended by 2023, ch. 112, sec. 1.
Idaho tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Idaho?
For a sedan in Idaho, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, back side windows at least 20%, and the rear window at least 35%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.
Is 20% tint legal in Idaho?
No, not on the front side windows. Idaho requires at least 35% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. The back side windows have a 20% floor, so 20% film can be legal there.
Can I tint the windshield in Idaho?
Idaho's rule for the windshield: Nonreflective window tinting film or sunscreening devices may not be applied to the windshield below the AS-1 line; if no AS-1 line is identifiable, not below a line extending 6 inches below and parallel to the top of the exposed windshield (§ 49-944(1)(a))
Does Idaho allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes — § 49-944(4): for a motor vehicle operated by, or carrying as a passenger, a person who possesses written verification from a licensed physician that the operator or passenger must be protected from exposure to sunlight or heat for medical reasons associated with past or current treatment, film may run to not less than 70% ±3% on the front windshield and not less than 20% ±3% on the windows, with luminous reflectance still capped at 35% ±3% in each instance. The written verification must be carried in the vehicle. (Both secondary sites say 75% for the windshield; the statute says 70%.) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Idaho?
Not required — § 49-944 imposes no labeling or certification duty. The Idaho State Police may promulgate implementing rules (§ 49-944(3)).
Where this comes from
Statute cited: Idaho Code § 49-944
- legislature.idaho.govhttps://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title49/t49ch9/sect49-944/
- tinting-laws.comhttps://tinting-laws.com/idaho/
- windowtintlaws.ushttps://windowtintlaws.us/idaho/
Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 14, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.
Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.